16/04/2026
Are you getting enough Vitamin C?
Population studies suggest that true deficiency is uncommon, but inadequate intake is far more widespread than expected.
High‑income countries show 0–15% deficiency rates in the general community.
However, when researchers look at optimal levels (not just avoiding scurvy), up to one‑third of people may be insufficient.
In Australia, only 6.8% of adults eat the recommended 5 servings of vegetables and only half eat 2 servings of fruit daily — suggesting a real risk of low vitamin C intake.
This means many people aren’t deficient enough to develop scurvy, but still aren’t reaching levels associated with better immune function, collagen production and antioxidant protection.
Why is vitamin C intake is often lower than expected?
Several factors reduce how much vitamin C people actually absorb from food:
--Low fruit and vegetable intake (the biggest driver)
Cooking and storage losses — vitamin C breaks down with heat, time and exposure to air ( many vegetables and fruits can be picked green and are artificially ripened, these practices severely reduce vitamin C content in these foods)
-Diet patterns heavy in grains, meats and processed foods, which contain almost no vitamin C
-Smoking, obesity, illness and stress, which increase vitamin C requirements
-Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors that limit access to fresh produce
What counts as “enough” vitamin C?
Keep in mind that the average recommended intakes are designed to prevent scurvy and not to optimize health. Many experts argue that current guidelines underestimate what’s needed for:
immune support
collagen synthesis
antioxidant protection
metabolic and cardiovascular health
A major review suggests that we should increase our recommended intake because current values likely underestimate true needs.
Who then is most at risk of low vitamin C levels?
Research highlights several groups with higher rates of inadequacy:
-people who eat few fruits/vegetables
-smokers
-people with obesity
-older adults
those with chronic illness
-people under high oxidative stress (pollution, inflammation, high work/ emotional stress)
-individuals with restrictive diets
What type of vitamin C is best?
I personally take a vitamin C that is buffered (not acidic) like calcium / sodium ascorbate and that is combined with some bioflavonoids like rutin and quercetin. I personally take 1 gram morning and 1 gram at night.
The best foods for Vitamin C are: berries, kiwis, broccoli, kale, bell peppers, brussel sprouts, rosehips and kimchi or sauerkraut. Make sure you load up on these as well, after all we want to slow down ageing!!!!!